State Rep. Paul Jacobs: Governor Signs Legislation Circumventing Heath Care Right of Conscience for Illinoisans

Carbondale, IL – Working families in Illinois were dealt another blow today as Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation into law to pave the way for his vaccine mandates to potentially withstand ongoing court challenges, according to State Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona).

“The Right of Conscience has long been a part of American life and culture…until today,” Jacobs said. “This new law sets a dangerous precedent. Today, it is COVID-19 protocols that are exempt from individuals’ right of conscience. What will we exempt in the future? Do we trust the current and future Illinois politicians to make that decision? Today is a dark day in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 1169 provides an exception to Illinois’ Health Care Right of Conscience Act which prevents discrimination based on, “conscientious refusal to receive, obtain, accept, perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any particular form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience.”

“I have been vaccinated and I certainly encourage people to consult with their doctors to make the healthcare decisions that are best for them,” Jacobs said. “Getting the vaccine should be a choice – not a mandate. There were more than 77,000 people who signed witness slips in opposition to this legislation, but their voices were ignored by Illinois Democrats and JB Pritzker. I look forward to the co-equal judicial branch weighing in with their opinion on this new law.”

For more information, log onto https://reppauljacobs.com/.

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